On Sunday, July 28, 2019, Ivy Irl Simpson Jr. passed away at age 94 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born October 20, 1924, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois to parents Ivy Irl Simpson Sr. and Vera Irene (Storkman) Simpson.

He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1942 and later that year enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. First Lieutenant Simpson was a navigator with the B-17 Flying Fortress unit during World War II, where he served at Normandy, North France, and Rhineland. Honors he received for his service included the Distinguished Flying Cross medal and the Oak Leaf Cluster medal for meritorious achievement. After his discharge in 1945, he graduated with a BS in Business from Indiana University (1948) and moved to Evansville, Indiana where he became a practicing Certified Public Accountant.

Irl married his first wife, Jo-Ann Young, in Mt. Carmel in 1948. To this union were born his son Reed and daughters Christie and Darlene. Irl was the project manager for the first covered shopping mall in Indiana, Evansville’s Washington Square Mall, which opened in 1963. He also managed several clubs and restaurants in Evansville including The Flame Lounge and the Coachman.

He married his second wife, Wanda Lee Russ, in 1971 and they had one son, Kurt. Later in life, he retired from Accounting and found a love for working with his hands. He worked for years in Evansville and Mt. Carmel as an independent contractor, specializing in stonework and siding. Irl is a former member and Treasurer of the Evansville Eagles Aerie 427.

He was a lifelong fan of Indiana University Basketball, enjoyed grilling, gardening, and spending time with friends and family. Irl moved to Florida in 2000, spending his final years at Palm Garden of Vero Beach.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Ivy and Vera; wives, Jo-Ann and Wanda; daughters, Christie (Meier) Greene, Darlene Kay (Coleman, Whitaker) Austin; grandbaby, Russell Whitaker; brother, Sherman E. Simpson, and sister Charlotte J. (Simpson) Lorey.

Surviving are his sons, Reed E. Simpson, M.D., of St. Louis, MO and Kurt E. Simpson of Evansville, IN; sister, Patricia Leeds of Mt. Carmel, IL, and grandchildren Allyson and Kamryn Simpson, Lisa, Jody and Terry Jr. Meier, Bry Coleman, Christopher Austin, and Nina Stevenson. He is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 2019, at Alexander North Chapel, 4200 Stringtown Road, officiated by Rev. Brian Bushkill. Friends may visit Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.

Ronald Louis Mandel, 86, of Evansville, passed away Wednesday, August 14, 2019, in Evansville. He suffered from dementia. He was born March 1, 1933, in Evansville to the late Florian and Helen (Fischer) Mandel. He attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School, Central High School Class of 1951 (where he played on the tennis team), Wittenberg College of Ohio and Evansville College. December 31, 1956, he married Patricia Ann Reid. They would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year.

He served in the United States Marine Corps and with the 3rd Marine Division, 7th Engineering Battalion from 1951-1954 during the Korean War, and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA.

He played on a baseball team while in the Marine Corp and was nicknamed “Mick Mandel”. Ron retired from Whirlpool as a steel buyer in 1988 after 31 years. He then formed his own corporation, Venture Enterprises, developing six patents for industrial packing. He then worked for SPECTRA CARE, a home infusion agency.

He was a long-time member of Northside Congregational Church, serving for a time as Head Usher. He also served on the church council at Christ Lutheran Church. He volunteered for many of the social events. He last attended Old North Methodist Church. Ron coached Rural Junior League baseball at Highland Grade School for several years in the 1960s. He was a 50 plus year member of the Purple Aces Club of UE, holding season tickets for 54 years. He rarely missed a game when the Aces played at Roberts Stadium.

In fact, he traveled with his wife to many out of state games, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. He was also a great fan of IU basketball and football, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Ron enjoyed traveling, camping and fishing, making several trips to Florida for bass fishing in many lakes and rivers.

He also spends time fishing with his wife’s cousin in Alton, IL. He greatly enjoyed spending time with his wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. He was always willing to help his neighbors and friends when they needed him.

He was preceded in death by brother-in-law and sister, Floyd and Virginia Hartlein; brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Ann Mandel, and his beloved dog, Lacie. Ron is survived by sons, Mark David Mandel and Jon Bryan Mandel (Lori); grandchildren, Emily Walker and Evan and Reid Mandel; nieces, nephews and their children, Michelle Hartlein, Bob Hartlein (Gail and Ethan), Greg Hartlein (Noah, Allie and Tiffany), Lori Kappell, Lana Mandel, Brett Mandel and Mark A. Mandel, Jerry’s first wife, Barbara, and two cousins, Mary Buschman and Nancy Sargent.

Friends may visit from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, Sunday, August 18, 2019, at Alexander North Chapel, 4200 Stringtown Rd. Private entombment will take place at a later date in Alexander Memorial Park, Mausoleum 7.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Vanderburgh Humane Society. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.